How to Avoid Foul-Smelling during Fasting?

As the Holy month of Ramadan is knocking our doors, shall we recall the Prophet Muhammad's saying: "By the one in Whose Hand my soul is, the breath of the fasting person is more pleasant with Allah than the smell of musk."

However, amongst the most asked questions during the Holy Month of Ramadan is how the bad breath can be prevented, bearing in mind that the bad fragrance exhaled decreases the self-confidence in social and intimate relations.

Firstly, it is important to know the causes behind the unpleasant odor. The bacteria that remain from the left food in our mouths evoke smelly gases.

Saliva that is a natural antibacterial agent in mouth and it helps remove bacteria and food from the mouth. While fasting, the flow of saliva decreases in case of dehydration, circumstances that lead to a dry mouth, hence, bacteria flourish.

This is the reason behind the breath smell in the morning, especially if the mouth is open while sleeping. So, it is advisable to brush and floss teeth before sleeping.

In addition to washing teeth, oral hygiene can be maintained during the day by using miswak (swak). Drinking a lot of liquids during the non-fasting hours also helps avoid unpleasant smell. As for drinking coffee, it is not advisable especially at suhoor, because it can dehydrate.

On the other side, increasing good bacteria in the gut serves as a solution against the bad smell. Good bacteria can be obtained by probiotics found in live culture yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi. Or, you can take one probiotic every day.